From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
The Speaker of Benue State Assembly, Hon. Hyacinth Dajoh has lampooned the Chairman of Benue State Universal Basic Education, Dr Grace Adagba for assuming a position of demigod in Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration.
Recall that the House of Assembly had last week, recommended the suspension of the SUBEB boss for six months over gross insubordination.
The house warned that if the Governor does not act on its resolution, it will cease from receiving correspondence from him concerning Commissioner nominees.
Speaking with Journalists on phone Wednesday, the speaker said that the position of the House recommending her suspension for six months was taken after all efforts to make her appear before the House and answer questions proved abortive.
He said, “The position of the House is clear: she must be suspended. If she remains in office, she will continue in this manner, and others will follow her example.
“This is not the first time the Assembly has clashed with her. Is she the only appointee in government? Does she have more money than the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs?
Dajoh stated that SUBEB boss has written two letters, one to the Local Government Committee and another to another committee stating that the assembly has no oversight power over her office.
“I even showed the governor. I asked, “How can she write such letters? Is she God?”” Speaker queried.
Dajoh who berated the SUBEB chairman for her obdurate style said that while the governor, Hyacinth Alia accords respect to all arms of government Adagba is disrespecting the legislative arms of government.
“That woman (SUBEB) writes to us every night as if we don’t have any authority over her. It’s not just verbal — she puts it in writing. That’s serious.
The speaker insisted, “If the governor refuses to suspend her, members have resolved not to entertain any correspondence from him. This is their official position, not just mine. I have told the governor, and the House has passed a resolution to that effect.
The Speaker described as laughable the position of the SUBEB chairman alleging that he (Speaker) is romancing the SGF to deal with Alia’d appointtees for easy removal of the governor.
The speaker said, “That’s laughable. How can suspending her stop us from impeaching the governor if we wanted to?”
The speaker also expressed concerns about the claim that she (SUBEB) boss was being victimized because she did not allow members access to SUBEB funded project, asking if that should stop oversight functions of the assembly.
“Even if that were true, is her response supposed to be that we have no oversight powers? Should she put that in writing?”
